Analogue Pocket Is A Neo-Retro Take On Classic Nintendo Game Boy Handheld

Nintendo's Game Boy lived on for quite a few generations, and its legacy still resides somewhat in the current generation Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch Lite. But for those that want to call back to the earlier, simpler times of the original Game Boy, there's a new device that's coming to the market from Analogue. Analogue is already a familiar name in the realm of retro consoles, but its new Pocket looks like an absolute delight for the Game Boy crowd.

The Pocket takes the original Game Boy and adds three decades worth of design refinements and modernity. For starters, it has much larger 3.5-inch LTPS color LCD panel with a resolution of 1600x1400 (615 ppi). That resolution is absolutely bonkers compared to the original's 160x144 STN LCD. In place of four AA batteries, the Pocket features an integrated, rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that charges via USB-C. You'll find a standard directional pad on the left along with four action buttons on the right face of the device and two shoulder buttons. There are also three smaller navigation buttons in the lower right corner of the device. Other features include stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a microSD port.

Thanks to its custom FPGA chip, the Pocket doesn't use emulation to run classic Game Boy games; it can run them natively directly from your physical cartridges. And not only are original Game Boy titles compatible, but the Pocket also accepts Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges. Separate adapters allow you to play Neo Geo Pocket Color and Atari Lynx games as well.

Similar in concept to the Nintendo Switch's dock, the Pocket will be available with its own optional dock. In this case, it has HDMI out for plugging into your HDTV along with two USB ports to accommodate USB controller. The dock also includes Bluetooth, which will allow you to use supported Bluetooth controllers from 8bitDo.

According to Analogue, the Pocket will ship sometime in 2020 priced at $199. There is no word yet on the cost of the dock or the adapters for Neo Geo and Lynx game cartridges.